THE future of the £850,000 Dan’s Den project will be decided today (Thursday).

Conwy’s cabinet members meet this afternoon to discuss whether proposals for the Colwyn Bay centre – a tribute to tragic teenager Daniel Cleverley, who died in a storage hut fire at Eirias Park in 2001 – are still viable.

Daniel’s parents Hazel and David Cleverley, of Abergele Road, are already reeling after losing funding this week.

And with David currently undergoing chemotherapy in his battle with bowel cancer, and the family home being targeted by an arsonist last Saturday (see separate story right), it’s been a tough week for the Cleverleys.

“Flying Start asked if they could come in with us on the Dan’s Den project, then pulled out two days before we applied for Lottery funding,” said Hazel, 50.

“The money is being earmarked for Colwyn Leisure centre instead. We had our plans redone to incorporate the Flying Start crèche in Dan’s Den, but they’ve changed their minds and made us look fools.

“The worst thing is having to tell people not to bother fundraising or organising events because the future of Dan’s Den hangs in the balance.

“We will have to look at whether to carry on with this project, especially given David’s condition, but hundreds of people have signed our petition and everyone is in support of the appeal.

“I’ll be at the meeting with these petitions and just pray we’ll get the council’s support.”

Conwy’s cabinet meets at 2pm to decide whether to spend Flying Start money on refurbishing Colwyn Leisure Centre with a crèche in a health precinct, or spend the £250,000 on a crèche in Dan’s Den, which would also be fitted with a computer suite, cafe and training rooms.

“We weren’t advised of the review of the business cases until after our Lottery bid had been submitted, and if Conwy County Council does site Flying Start in the leisure centre, then our bid will have to be withdrawn, delaying it by at least a year.

“If we are able to re-submit what would be a severely reduced project its chances of success will have been affected by the council’s actions.

“There is a clear opportunity for Dan’s Den, not only in partnership with Flying Start but also with the Bay Life Initiative and Communities First, to deliver a lasting legacy for our town. We really hope that legacy is not lost forever.”